Far off in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Dorian forms

The fourth-named storm of the season was moving at a brisk clip generally west toward a string of Caribbean islands but it will be several days before it’s clear what kind of threat it might pose.

At 5 p.m., the National Hurricane Center pegged Dorian’s maximum winds at 50 mph. Forecasters said the storm could weaken under the influence of cooler water and dry air in its immediate path but because it is moving so quickly, at 20 mph, they don’t expect a significant drop-off in strength.

On its current forecast track, Dorian could approach the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico by Sunday or Monday. The center’s computer models were in good agreement on the storm’s track but there is more uncertainty about its intensity.